RateTheRef

Very odd performance so far. So many free kicks given that weren't, some that were that weren't given. And even as an Arsenal fan I think the booking for Rogers was harsh - and crowd pressure based - and Merino should absolutely have been sent off for a second yellow.

Not a very impressive performance, but not helped by a very busy VAR. Seemed quite weak overall. Accepted dissent, was swayed by his VAR too easily. Neither intervention from VAR seemed justifiable in my opinion, unless the threshold is now to re-referee every potential incident. Not even sure the handball meets the threshold in law given it seemed to be headed onto his arm from centimetres away by a teammate.

Game under way again for Jones and crew…looks like they’ll make it home on time after all!

Or not. The last 10 minutes was farcical football. Suspect Jones was hoping to get to half time and reassess, but looks like that'll be it for tonight. 45 minutes potentially tomorrow to finish the fixture I suspect.

It's funny how controversy seems to repeat itself in the same fixtures and this year this fixture is no different.

For me, as Webb said himself last year on Mic'd Up when defending a similar incident, getting the merest of touches on the ball when committing to a challenge doesn't necessarily negate the foul. Had that not been given, there'd be no debate, but as it was, I find it hard to accept that that is the bar for intervention from VAR.

On the other decisions, clearly Joelinton should have been sent off, but I think game management came into play there to tactically ignore the clear dissent. I think Gabriel was lucky not to give away a handball, as a bit like the Arsenal penalty appeal, it's clutching at straws to make the law defend the decision. Bruno was also lucky not to give away a penalty for handball from Martinelli's shot given the distance the ball travelled.

A very tricky fixture nowadays after Attwell's handling of it in recent times that ignited it. Not one I'd envy anyone taking on!

The email from A&H today says "The Pro DNA match kit can be worn by any match official from the Premier League to Grassroots." Unless I've missed something, they might want to be clear that they are referring to the black version only I assume.

Definite RC. Absolutely endangered the safety of Saka and could have caused a serious injury given it was from behind with studs fully into the achilles. Looked like a lot of the information must have came from Richard West given the delay in the red card being shown.

No explanation for why Merino wasn't booked earlier on though.

Nice for Arsenal to get someone different for a change in Salisbury, less to Kavanagh who we seem to get every two or three games. Thought one of those games might have brough Attwell out of his 18 month Arsenal exile given there's little on those games for any of the three teams.

Always nice to see some SG2 getting some opportunities at this stage of the season as effective dead rubbers start to occur.

Out of all the officials Arsenal have had in the UCL this season, this was the worst official. Worrying considering this was a knockout round game, albeit a dead rubber. Really poor foul detection, two absolutely baffling YCs to Kiwior and Rice - Kiwior's wasn't even close to a foul let alone a card. Seemed to wait to see if players/benches would jump up and complain before giving FKs, meaning some were given 2 or 3 seconds after the offence (not advantage related). Was correct to give Sterling his YC, though even that happened in delay. Will need to improve to move up to the Elite group.